For a couple of days now there has been rain predicted for today and since I have been essentially rain-free so far I was dreading it a little. In fact, if it was bad enough I was prepared to hunker down for a while (and thankfully Rich and Beth would have graciously let me do so at their home). But when it came to it I decided that I would make some progress regardless of the rain. So here’s how I prepared myself (notice that it was still dark when we left):
I have a shell on top with two layers underneath and rain pants over my pants. Here’s what it looked like as I got started:
It wasn’t raining very hard and the wind was blowing from my left so that the spray from cars wasn’t hitting me.
Here’s some Halloween humor:
A little stream as I was coming into the minuscule town of Stafford:
but presumably the Stafford volunteer firepersons serve more than their little town:
Notice by the way that according to the Stafford Fire Department, the temperature at that point was 55. I was sweating in my rain gear.
Here’s a spot that I stopped under a tree to update my location and turned out to be worthy of a picture:
Kreative Spelling Kitchen & Bath:
Hardcor Spelling:
Start of a long stretch of sidewalk in Batavia — nice:
Birthplace of western NY — hmmmm:
If I hadn’t recently got some money out of the bank, I would have stopped here. Think of the advantages: lighter money that isn’t toxic!
No need to move these monuments indoors at the end of the day; they wouldn’t fit anyway:
Rats, I should have got some of that unleaded cash out of the ATM machine — then I could have had one of those incredibly expensive ribeye melts:
So I thought the App Store was only virtual — cool! And they are on sale!
Google maps took me down this road and it looked at this point as if I would have to backtrack:
Well, if I had been driving I would have been out of luck, but …
And so I arrived at the Pok-A-Dot diner in Batavia, a place Fiona and I pass every time we go to Toronto (and come home, of course).
It’s sits out on its own (I didn’t really capture that in this photo) and looks like it was just thrown up. But in fact it’s been there for 60 years and but for a little land dispute would be considered a historical site. It has been featured many times in the news. And it’s just a tiny diner, but with great food and a dedicated local clientele. Here’s a picture of the three women who so expertly managed the place while I was there:
That’s Nicole, Jenny and Joanne, from the left. Joanne says lots of people say they pass the place all the time but never go in, just like Fiona and me. So go there, if you are in Batavia — best local atmosphere I’ve experienced so far.
Next stop was just around the corner to see Michael at a bike shop — after fixing another flat last night I was losing air again. I brought two of the three wheels in (the ones I had had flats in so far) and just bought two new inner tubes. Michael also found a really tiny piece of something on the inside surface of one of the tires and removed it — it was hard even to see — and this may have been the cause of a few of my pinprick leaks — hard to say:
Stream on the way out of Batavia:
Notice that there are no drops on the water surface — it had stopped raining by this time and it was quite warm so I had just one layer on top, and no rain pants.
When we worked on those tires we noticed that one bit of one of the tire beads was damaged (this could have been from the first time I changed a flat). We pumped them to around 28, even though 20 is recommended (my idea), and here’s what happened to that damaged bead:
I let some air out, pushed the bead back in and re-inflated to 20. It seemed to be OK for the rest of the day. I should probably get a new tire; Michael didn’t have one.
Trying to figure out what to do with those old bales of hay and CDs?
The scenery was much less dramatic than I’ve been experiencing up to now, and the rain certainly didn’t help:
But there were some notable exceptions:
I ended the day at an Econo Lodge very close to where Route 5 crosses south to north across I-90. I’m close enough to the border now that I’m going to try to reach it by Saturday at the end of that day’s walk — two long days ahead.
This push for the border is exhilarating! I can sense your increased fitness for this task. Trail hardened. An unstoppable force with no immovable object in sight! If someone told you, you’d be cranking 20 miles a day at this point …
WOW!
The amazing thing is that today, for the first time, I did not feel at all crippled at the end of the walk.
Wow Allan, the rain did not hold you back! incredible. It rained here in Ottawa much of today.. so the sightings option was great to track your location and temperature, observations. Thanks Matt!
So in the end will you cross the Erie Canal at any point?
I think I will cross it as I get close to Grand Island. I shall keep my eyes peeled!
Allan,
Have truly enjoyed following you so far. Looking at your pictures reminds me of how blessed we are by God’s creation each day.
Can’t begin to tell you the number of people who can’t believe you are not doing this little jaunt for some kind of charity or something. When I tell them you are doing it “just because” they all shake their heads.
Bill
Hey Bill — great to hear from you! Yeah, I’m crazy I guess. I sometimes wonder what I will think of it when I’m done.
Greetings Allan,
How’s this for an idea? When the Bar Harbor, Maine to Yarmouth N.S. ferry is running again, you could walk from your place to John McNab’s. And, if you chose the right route, you would pass right by our place – spend the night here! 😉
Are they planning to start it up again? Anyway, it sounds lovely, but I expect this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m getting pretty old!
The NDP, who were ousted in the last election, started the task of finding a ‘new’ ferry. So we’ll see.
We are enjoying your daily posts and are cheering you on to the finish!
I can almost hear you from here! But your voices are fading as I get further away.
Allan, I have eaten at the Pok A Dot!!!! It was in 1979…I have a friend who grew up in Albion, on Route 31, it runs sort of parallel to Route 5. Too funny.
Be Safe…
G
Well, it would already have been there for 18 years when you ate there. Legendary place.
Allan the descriptions of your wonderful photos, I think you are getting punnier as time progresses.
It’s fun thinking of the captions as I take them.
Impressive, starting the day not looking forward to the weather, and the next thing you know, almost 20 miles in the books. Back home I did not see anyone dress as a cross country walker for Halloween!
But if someone did show up as a cross-country walker, think of the efficiency in gathering candy with a large tote on a modified stroller!
Hi Allan, I just got back from work,I can never go to sleep until I see those pictures you post. On your map you are so close now to Canada, it looks to me you can just reach out your arm and you’ll touch it ! This has got to be so exciting now ! Stay safe and may you continue to have traveling mercies 🙂
Yes, it feels close, but it’s still two long days of walking. And then about six more days in Canada. So I don’t even hear the fat lady warming up her voice yet.
Allan,
As you are getting closer and closer to built up areas the signs will become more numerous and so your puns will become more tempting. And I never knew you and Fi frequently passed by the Pepsi Pok-A-Dot Pepsi diner. More fancy spelling which you forgot to remind us of! I am glad you finally got a real visit.
You made great progress despite the rain and the inherent difficulty of moderating your body temperature with rain gear.
Getting rev’ed up to meet and greet on Saturday!
Russell
I’m getting ready to leave now but the rain outside is daunting, with fierce winds. I do see a break in the clouds so maybe it will blow over soon.
I worked out of Batavia for years. The pok-a-dot restaurant was a landmark for me to turn for work but I never went in there. Will have to give it a try next time I am out that way.
Really enjoying your sense of humor….think of all the people you are entertaining along the way! Stay safe in these strong winds. Continuing to pray.
Do try the Pok-a-Dot — great diner experience.
Greetings Allan,
Glad to see you made great progress again yesterday, even in the rain.
I don’t think there would be many thefts at Affordable Monuments.
Tully’s is really expensive or perhaps exclusive, does the president dine there? Only he could afford to.
Pok-A-Dot Diner doesn’t look like a place I would stop at, but obviously looks can be deceiving.
When you got your tyre repaired _again_, I thought there had to be a reason for getting all those flats, it’s not like you’ve got a huge load on your buggy.
That’s a really big ‘kitty’ at Cleveland Rocks
There are stone walls/fences similar to those here. I can’t imagine how much work it would have taken to collect and build them, probably all manually too, with horses or oxen.
Stay safe.
Actually it is a pretty heavy load on the buggy — that bin has a lot of stuff in it (all necessary, of course!). It’s almost surely heavier than a child would be.
The rain will be by you shortly… I think you are going to have a cool day to walk, weather wise and day wise… We are praying for you… Press on brother…. Press on… JIM
11-1-13,
Rabbit-Rabbit! On this day we crossed paths. Allan looked very well rested and ready to take on the day. I was automatically very impressed of his achievement. He will be forever strengthened by the end of his journey. With a handshake we ended our short introductions and quick story telling. I wished Allan safe travels as he took his next step on his north westerly path. I was left with a great sense of happiness that lingered in the air. It was a great pleasure to be in the company of Allan and his BIG glowing smile. I am grateful that our lives touched for a short moment in time and resulted in a large impression that will carry on for awhile or a life time. Carry on my Friend…
Sincerely,
W.N. IV
Thanks for commenting, Wendover! I shall be mentioning you shortly in today’s blog. It was great meeting you and Bruce and I do hope you get that bathroom working again (and of course success in the whole project).